Questions abound in incident at SDSU

On the advice of his agent, Long has declined to comment on the case. But Sandford's father, Paul, says Long told him he was concerned about the physical welfare of his quarterback and for the professional prospects of Louis, one of the team's better blockers and later a seventh-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears.

Neither of these explanations would seem an adequate rationale for excusing an alleged premeditated assault. Both smack of unenlightened self-interest.

Puzzling, too, is the conduct of SDSU's medical staff, specifically as it pertains to California Penal Code section 11160. That section requires that medical practitioners who know or reasonably suspect a physical injury resulted from “assaultive or abuse conduct” must report it immediately to a local law enforcement agency and must submit a written report within two working days.

There is no evidence that such a report was made in the Sandford case. Police list their first report of a Nov. 5 battery allegation at the Aztec Athletic Center at 11:43 a.m. on Nov. 20.

“There was a frank conversation with Nick Sandford by our medical staff,” SDSU spokesman Jack Beresford said, “and it was Nick Sandford's decision not to go to the police.”

Beresford did not challenge the assertion that doctors do not have the discretion to yield to a patient's preferences in a perceived assault case. Paul Sandford said the university's statement misrepresented his son's position.

“He was in fear of his life,” Paul Sandford said, “and did not want to be the one to do it and felt it was the university's responsibility to (report it).”

College football's culture is so clannish, and its players so compliant with the instructions of their coaches, that Schemmel says he was not made aware of the meeting-room melee until Nov. 17, more than 10 days after it happened. He says he assigned Oberhelman to investigate that day.

By then, there was only one game left on the Aztecs' schedule and, despite Schemmel's vote of confidence in late October, Long had effectively become a lame duck. Though some Aztecs fans on blogs and radio have accused Schemmel of a cover-up in the Sandford case — a poll question posted on Aztectalk.com asks whether he should be fired as a result — no proof has yet surfaced on that score.

Moreover, as late as Nov. 13, Long was still running a misdirection play. During the coach's radio show that night, a caller who identified himself as Dave from Murrieta inquired why Sandford had not played the preceding Saturday against Brigham Young.

“He had a concussion last week,” Long said. “I don't know if he'll even play this week. He got it in practice. We'll see where it goes. But he does have some speed and he's a really good special teams player.”

Schemmel said Wednesday he was unaware that Long had claimed Sandford's injury occurred in “practice.” When asked if that apparent deception might qualify as “material dishonesty,” and give the university recourse to void the remainder of Long's contract, Schemmel called the question “appropriate,” but referred it to the university's lawyers for an answer.